Tayu, the nun of his old nurse, told Genji that the Princess Hitachi was living alone and consoling herself by playing the koto, a Japanese lute. The prince was touched by the story and visited her in spring. The moon was beautiful and nearly full. The Princess was regarding the garden and enjoying the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms. Tayu did not mention to her that Genji was near and asked her to play the koto. Though her touch was not particularly distinguished, he found it very pleasing.

Listening to the music of the koto, Genji approached the main hall. When he leaned to the bamboo fence to see her closer, there was someone before him. He thought that it must be a young man who had come to see the Princess Hitachi and fell back in the shadows. Then the man talked to him: it was his friend To-no-Chujo. They left the palace together that evening. To-no-Chujo was puzzled when they parted, because Genji had gone neither to his Sanjo mansion where his wife lived or his own at Nijo. He followed Genji to find out where he would go. Genji regretted being thoughtless.

On a snowy night, Genji visited the Princess Hitachi after a long interval. When the daylight came, he was surprised to see her. She was not at all beautiful, and was wearing an old-style dress, which was wrong for the young princess. The gate was ruined and leaning in the snow. The aged gatekeeper and his daughter tried to open the gate, but it took a long time to open it until his men pushed. He was extremely sorry for her and resolved to support her.